Casing machine



A. R. SILVA ETAL March 26, 1957 CASING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 51, 1952 h v ana-la AM Me Gum/V I AL sxmvom oo/wuo March 26, 1957 R, SILVA ETAL CASING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1952 FIG. 2.

l/VI/E/V 70/23 AN V0 MM 3; 0 YWRMT N E T 04 mm; -o AM A r B March 26, 1957 R, slLvA ETAL 2,786,316

CASING MACHINE Filed May 51,- 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /6 0 asxmvacw 004/440 Q 57 7. 0 01 W 0770/9/14? CASING MAHINE Anthony R. Silva, San Jose, Leonard McGihon, San Leandro, and Alexander Donald, Woodside, Califl; said McGihon and said Donald assignors to said Silva Application May 31, 1952, Serial No. 290,864

20 Claims. (Cl. 53-392) The present invention is concerned with casing machines of the case-inverting type, and is concerned more particularly with certain improvements therein for enhancing the operation of placing the inverted case over an array of bottles or containers, and the subsequent control of the case during the inverting and discharging operation.

In casing machines of this type an array of bottles of the required number for a case is first assembled and the case inserted thereover, and the bottles are then lifted with the case thereon, and the case inverted so that its open end is up for subsequent closing operations. One of the problems encountered in this type of equipment is in the handling of the bottles which have been freshly labeled, so that the label will not be damaged during the casing operation, during the placing of the case and the partitions therein over the bottles, or during the subsequent case inverting operation. The instant invention is designed to provide a separation between the upper ends of the bottles so as to provide an entry placefor the case partitions during insertion of the bottles into the case. It is also designed to provide a controlled inverting operation and to effect a gentle depositing of the case during discharge.

The above and other objects of the invention are at? tained as described in connection with a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of theycasing machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the casing machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the .arcuate container supports with the case in place over an array of containers.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating the operation as the inversion of the case begins.

Figure 8 is a schematic view similar to Figure 7 showing the parts at an intermediate position during the inverting operation.

Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 7 showing the parts as positioned at the end of the inverting operation.

The casing machine disclosed herein is 0f the type shown in the copending applications of Anthony R. Silva, Serial No. 37,291, filed July 6, 1948, now Patent number 2,692,713, and Serial No. 101,575, filed June27, 1949, now Patent number 2,646,197.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the machine includes a bottle feed conveyor 10 upon which a plurality of parallel files of bottles 11 are conveyed to a casing station including a container support 12 and a lifting and inverting mechanism 13 by means of which an array of bottles 11, and the case 14 placed thereover, are lifted and placed in inverted position for discharge onto a suitable discharge conveyor 16. The conveyor 10 is of conventional construction and is trained about a driving drum 21 and nited fitates Patent 0 I cession on'a series of cases.

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a suitable idler drum (not shown), the drum 21 being driven through a chain 22 from a suitable electric motor 23. The chain 22 also provides a drive to a conventional clutch 24 as later disclosed. The conveyor lit in the present embodiment supports four parallel files of bottles 11 bewteen suitable dividing partitions 26 suitably supported on the frame of the machine.

At the discharge end of the conveyor 10, there is provided a transfer plate 31 leading to a casing station including the container supports 12 which is formed of five .arcuate T bars 32 forming four sets of split rails to receive the four parallel files of bottles 11, the T bars 32 being detaqhably Secured in projecting position from the frame of the machine and being provided with suitable container stops 33 adjustably clamped thereon. The casing station comprises four split paths or supporting means for the bottles on to which they arepushed by the on coming files of bottles on the conveyor 1%. The arcuate shape of the T bars 32 is sufficient to space the bottles apart at their upper ends, a distance at least equal to the thickness of a partition wall 34 of the case 14 as seen in Figure 3. This provides for easy insertion of the case and'the partitions over the bottles without the necessity for forcing the bottles apart by means of the case.

The casing station also includes lifting and inverting means in the form of two sets of lifting arms 41 (Figures 1 and 5) supported on a shaft 49 and spaced degrees apart about the shaft. The arms 41 are spaced apart by collars 43 so as to be aligned with the openings in each split bottle path formed by the 1 bars 32, and are secured together for unitary movement by suitable tie rods 46 extending between end collars 47 and disposed in aligned apertures in the arms 41. The drive structure includes hollow end shafts 42 which are suitably journaled in bearing supports 4% on respective suitable frame angles 49. The end shafts 42 have tongue and groove connections 51 with the collars 43 to provide a drive while pr viding for disassembly of the structure by movement thereof transversely of the drive axis. Respective tie rods 50 extend through the hollow shafts 42 and are threaded into the support shaft 40, being secured at their outer ends by suitable nuts and washers abutting the end of one shaft42 and the hub of the drive sprocket.

As seen at the left of Figure 5 the sectional drive Structure is provided with a chain and sprocket drive 52 t0 the clutch mechanism 24 (Figure 1). The clutch 24 is of conventional one revolution type and the gearing is such that the arms-41 receive one-half rotation for each revolution of the clutch so that the two sets of arms 41 become active successively. The clutch is of a solenoid type and is controlled through a switch 53. Each set of arms 41 (Figure 1) has adjustably secured thereon a case guide and support member 56 referred to hereinafter.

The casing station is also provided with means for cor trolling depositing of the cases, such means acting in suc- This case depositing means comprises a pair of arms '56 (Figures 1 and 5) having a U-shaped cross member 57 extending therebetween and having case supporting fingers 58. The upper end of each arm v56 is slotted at 61 to receive a fastening pin 62 for the u-shaped cross member 57 where it is adjustably secured in p sition by a nut .63. it Will be noted that this adjustment enables both angular positioning of the case supporting member 57 as well as lengthwise adjustment thereof on the arms 56. This case depositing control means is pivoted coaxially with the case lifting elements an is t zolliilected :to the drive structure through a pair of one-way acting clutches :by means of which the case depositing control means is positively prevented from overdriving with respect to the case lifting arms 41. As seen in Figure 5, each arm 56 is apertured at its lower end to pivot on the enlarged end 66 of a shaft 42, and the end 66 is also pivotally engaged by a lower counterbalance 67 for each arm 56. Each arm 56 is connected by bolts 68 with the outer element of a one-way clutch 69, the in ner element being suitably secured to the shaft 42. The clutch construction is shown more clearly in Figure 6 as including an outer element 69a, an inner element 6% and roller clutch elements 690.

In operation the conveyor runs continuously sliding four parallel files of bottles to the parallel station on which they are supported, each file of bottles being stopped by the respective stops 33 (Figure 3) on the arcuate bars or rails 32. The upper ends of the bottles are spaced apart by their arcuate support to receive the case 14 and its partitions 34, as shown in Figure 3. The operator then inserts the case in inverted position over the containers and operates the clutch control 53. As the lifting arms 41 engage the bottles, as illustrated in Figure 7, they begin the lifting and inverting movement of the ease of bottles, the case support and depositing control means 56-57 remaining stationary at this point of the operation due to the free wheeling clutches 69. Figure 8 illustrates an intermediate position during the inverting operation when the case of bottles is supported on the end by the case support 56, and where its weight is being trans erred from the lifting arms 41 to the case depositing control means 57. The case support 56 is made up of two supporting portions including a first portion 56a which receives the case from and is at right an les to the lifting arms 41, and a second portion 56b which is at an an le greater than 90 degrees with respect to the adjacent lifting arms so that it promotes rocking movement of the case toward the depositing control means 57 during transfer of the weight of the case from the lifting arms to the control means 57. The weight of the case in enga ing the control means 56-57 effects travel thereof clockwise in supporting relation to the case to the position shown in Figure 9, against a stop 55 on the frame. In this position the case slides by gravity onto the discharge conveyor 16. At this time the drive of the lifting means 41 has been interrupted, and after discharge of the case the depositing control means 5657 will return to the position shown in Figure 7 by the operation of gravity.

in the meantime the arcuate rails 32, immediately after lifting of one array of bottles therefrom, have received another array of bottles from the conveyor 10 and the operation is repeated.

To change the machine from its conditon for use with a case of 24 bottles to the condition for use with a case of 12 bottles, the bottle feed mechanism is rearranged to supply three parallel files, the container supporting rails 12, being detachably mounted, are shifted to correspond in providing three paths, and the lifting arms 41 are removed frcm the machine to be similarly converted. To remove the lifting arms from the machine, the sectional shaft construction of the drive structure is utilized. The fastening bolts or tie rods 50 are loosened and withdrawn from the center support shaft 40 into the hollow end shaft sections 42, so that the intermediate section of the drive structure, consisting of the shaft 40 and the end collars 47 can be withdrawn with the lifting arms 41, laterally or transversely of the axis of the drive structure. This detachable mounting of the drive structure and its sectional nature enables a very fast change-over. Once the lifting arm assembly is removed, one of the lifting arms can be taken off the assembly and the remaining three arms appropriately spaced.

While we have shown and disclosed a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is apparent that the invention is capable of both variation and modification from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In a casing machine, a frame, a plurality of parallel 4 container supporting rails on said frame, said rails including partition means for maintaining separated parallel les of containers, each. rail being of a length to support a file of containers, whereby said rails as a group support a rectangular array of said containers for positioning of a case thereover, a longitudinal opening adjacent each rail, and a lifting and inverting mechanism comprising a plurality of parallel arms mounted adjacent to said rails with their container engaging surfaces lying substantially in the same plane, each of said arms being aligned with one of said rail openings, whereby upon operation of said mechanism said arms move into lifting engagement with said array of said containers.

2. In a casing machine, a frame, a plurality of parallel container supporting rails on said frame, said rails including partition means for maintaining separated parallel files of containers, each rail being adapted to support a file of containers whereby said rails as a group support a rectangular array of said containers for positioning of a case thereover, each of said rails being formed of a pair of spaced apart parallel sections providing a longitudinal opening in each rail, lifting and inverting mechanism comprising a plurality of parallel lifting members mounted adjacent to said rails and each in alignment with one of said openings, the upper surfaces of said members lying substantially in the same plane, and means for operating said members to effect lifting engagement thereof with said array of said containers.

3. In a casing machine, a frame, a plurality of parallel container supporting rails on said frame, each rail being adapted to support a file of containers whereby said rails as a group support an array of said containers for positioning of a case thereover, each of said rails being formed of a pair of spaced apart parallel sections providing a longitudinal opening in each rail, lifting mechanism comprising a plurality of parallel arms mounted adjacent to said rails for rotation about a common axis, each of said arms being aligned with one of said openings, whereby upon rotation of said arms about said axis they move into lifting engagement with said array of said containers, and case depositing control means comprising a member pivotally mounted about said axis and normally disposed in substantially upright position for en gagement by a case when said arms arrive in substantially vertical position.

4. A casing machine as recited in claim 1 in which said rails are of upwardly convex shape to space the containers of said array apart at their upper ends.

5. A casing machine as recited in claim 1 in which said rails include means for effecting spacing apart of the upper ends of containers thereon.

6. A casing machine as recited in claim 1, including means for mounting said arms for rotation about a common axis, the mounting means for said arms about said axis comprises spaced hearings on said frame, respective end .shaft sections journaled in said bearings, and an intermediate shaft section carrying said arms and having detachable drive connections respectively with said end shaft sections to provide for disassembly of said arms and said intermediate shaft section laterally of said axis.

7. A casing machine as recited in claim 1, including means for mounting said arms for rotation about a common axis, the mounting means for said arms about said axis comprises spaced bearings on said frame, respective end shaft sections journaled in said bearings, an intermediate shaft section carrying said arms and having respective key connections to said end shaft sections to provide for disassembly of said arms and said intermediate shaft section laterally of said axis, and detachable means securing each end shaft section to said intermediate shaft section.

8. A casing machine as recited in claim 2 in which said rails are of upwardly convex shape to space the containers of said array apart at their upper ends.

9. A casing machine as recited in claim 2 in which said rails include means for efiecting spacing apart of the upper ends of containers thereon.

10. A casing machine as recited in claim 3 in which the pivotal mounting of said case depositing means comprises a overrunning clutch connected to prevent overtravel of said depositing control means with respect to said arms.

11. A casing machine as recited in claim 3 in which the depositing control means includes a support element disposed below a case with said member in upright position.

12. In a casing machine having means forming a plurality of parallel single file feed paths for containers, a casing station at the discharge end of said paths comprising a corresponding plurality of split continers supports open at one end, each support having a container stop at the open end thereof, said supports being positioned to support an array of containers for insertion of a case thereover, a plurality of lifting arms mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to said paths and positioned to pass upwardly through said split supports to lift containers therefrom, and discharge control means mounted coaxially with said arms and positioned for engagement with the bottom of a case engaged with an array of bottles to support the case during inversion of the case and the containers by said arms.

13. In a casing machine, a casing station comprising a corresponding plurality of parallel split container supports open at one end, each support having a container stop at said one end thereof, said supports having convex curvature along their length to effect spacing apart of the containers to receive the partition structure of a case, and means normally disposed below said supports and mounted for upward movement therethrough for lifting containers therefrom.

14. In a casing machine, a casing station comprising a corresponding plurality of parallel split container supports open at one end, each support having a container stop at said one end thereof, said supports having means to effect spacing apart of the containers to receive the partition structure of a case, and means normally disposed below said supports and mounted for upward movement therethrough for lifting containers therefrom.

15. A machine as recited in claim 12 in which the array of supports is detachably mounted in the machine and the lifting arms are constructed as a detachable assembly.

16. In a casing machine, a frame, container support means on said frame providing for a plurality of parallel rows of containers thereon in rectangular array, said container support means including a plurality of parallel longitudinal openings therein and lying under containers thereover, and means for lifting the containers from said support means with a case in inverted position thereover and for thereafter moving said case with the containers therein to reverse its position, said means including ele ments to engage the case on opposite sides thereof.

17. A casing machine, as recited in claim 16, in which said container support means includes means for effective spacing apart of the upper end of containers thereon.

18. In a casing machine, a frame, container positioning and arranging means on said frame for receiving and arranging containers in a plurality of parallel files, said container arranging and positioning means including a plurality of parallel partitions disposed between the adjacent files of said containers to maintain the container files separated, said container arranging and positioning means providing a longitudinal opening beneath each file of said containers, said container arranging and positioning means being disposed and constructed to provide containers as a group for position of a case thereover in'inverted position, and a container and case discharge and inverting mechanism including a plurality of parallel arms mounted adjacent a normal position below said openings whereby upon movement of said arms upwardly through said openings they engage and lift the group of containers and the case thereover to initiate the case discharge operation, said case when placed over said group of containers providing means for maintaining the array during the inverting and discharge thereof, said discharge and inverting mechanism including case-engaging means for maintaining the position of the case during inversion and discharge thereof.

19. A casing machine for handling a rectangular array of containers arranged in parallel spaced apart files and a case placed in inverted position over the containers to maintain the rectangular array thereof and receive the containers, comprising a frame, container arranging and control means including a plurality of partitions for maintaining the spaced apart relation of said files and for providing a plurality of parallel openings extending inwardly from one end of said container arranging and control means, and a lifting mechanism on said frame including a plurality of parallel arms mounted for movement through said openings to engage the containers during the lifting operation.

20. A casing machine as recited in claim 18 in which said container arranging and positioning means also includes container support means adjacent said partitions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,210,378 Parry Aug. 6, 1940 2,323,852 Seidel et al. July 6, 1943 2,497,767 Hallead Feb. 14, 1950 2,571,790 Tomkins Oct. 16, 1951 

